Division I Cross Country Preseason Regional Rankings Released

NEW ORLEANS – With the 2013 collegiate cross country season set to get underway this weekend, the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) released Monday the preseason regional rankings for NCAA Division I.

Three men’s regional champion teams and five regional champion women’s squads will begin their 2013 campaigns as their respective regions’ preseason favorite. The preseason National Coaches Poll will be revealed Tuesday.

Parity is the predominant preseason rankings trend on the men’s side, as just three teams that won their regions in 2012 remain atop the preseason rankings in 2013: defending champion Oklahoma State (Midwest Region); 2012 national runner-up Wisconsin (Great Lakes); and Northern Arizona (Mountain).

Also selected as preseason regional favorites are Princeton (Mid-Atlantic, third in 2012 at regionals); Syracuse (Northeast, third in 2012); Florida (South, third in 2012); Arkansas (South Central, runner-up in 2012); Eastern Kentucky (Southeast, runner-up in 2012); and Portland (West, runner-up in 2012).

The story is different in the women’s rankings, with five regional champion teams reclaiming the top spot in the preseason. Among those women’s teams are defending champion Oregon (West Region); 2012 national runner-up Providence (Northeast); Florida State (South); Arkansas (South Central); and Duke (Southeast).

Michigan State (Great Lakes, runner-up in 2012 at regionals); Georgetown (Mid-Atlantic, runner-up in 2012); Minnesota (Midwest, third in 2012); and Colorado (Mountain, third in 2012) all usurped their regions’ conference champion for preseason favorite honors.

USTFCCCA Regional Cross Country Rankings are determined subjectively by a single member coach in each respective region. The regional representative is tasked with weighing returning team strength with current-season results in determining predicted team finishes at the NCAA Regional Championships.